The Breakdown

On this week’s Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads two pieces from former bitcoin skeptics who have changed their mind about the asset.  “Bitcoin Crushes Doubters as 224% Rally Proves It’s Here to Stay” by Ed van der Walt  “Why I’ve Changed My Mind on Bitcoin” by Nick Maggiulli, COO of Ritholtz Wealth Management   -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io - A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.   -- Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com

On this edition of The Breakdown’s weekly recap, NLW looks at what was one of the most spectacular and surprising weeks in bitcoin and crypto history. Specifically, he discusses: Price action Macro tailwinds Regulatory shifts in surprise guidance from the OCC Retail investor momentum building -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io - A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.   -- Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com

Today on the Brief: U.S. loses 140,000 jobs in December Chamath’s SoFi SPAC A SPAC for Bakkt Our main discussion: upcoming stimulus plans  As the dust (finally? sort of?) settles on elections that began last year, the Democrats are looking to jump right out of the gate with a new set of stimulus plans, including both payments to individuals as well as big infrastructure spending.  In this episode, NLW discusses the specifics we know so far, the potential challenges to get these plans passed and what the implications for bitcoin might be.  -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io - A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co.   -- Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com

Today on the Brief: U.S. President Trump signs order banning Chinese apps Initial jobless claims hold steady at 787,000 Elon Musk becomes the world’s richest person Our main discussion: Can bitcoin just keep going up?  In this episode, NLW breaks down: What’s driving the rally, including the growth of institutional buyers, burgeoning retail FOMO, Asian markets and more  Why some indicators are pointing towards a trader move into altcoins  Why, despite the rapid growth, bitcoin remains undervalued  -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io - A new era of innovation on Bitcoin has begun. Stacks 2.0 enables secure apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin, unlocking new use cases and value while laying the foundation for a user-owned internet. https://stacks.co. -- Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com

Today on the Brief: ShapeShift goes full DEX Neil Young and the changing business of music China stocks delisted from NYSE Our main discussion: What are the implications of Georgia’s runoff elections for bitcoin and markets as a whole?  In this episode, NLW discusses: The immediate response of Crypto Twitter to the victory for Dems Why Kelly Loeffler was a disappointing industry rep in the Senate  Which stocks are going up on the news and why Why a Democrat Senate majority is driving up inflation expectations Why discussions of UBI and digital dollars and more in play than ever  Why bitcoin stands to be supercharged by the coming macro environment Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com

Yesterday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released Interpretive Letter 1174. The letter allows banks to participate as nodes in “independent node verification networks” (which you might better know as blockchain networks) as well as use stablecoins for payments settlement.  In this episode of The Breakdown, NLW looks at:  Crypto Twitter’s response to the news  A review of key passages from the letter The response of critics The implications for CBDCs and the geopolitical battle between the U.S. dollar and China’s emerging digital currency  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com

The end of December was a momentous time in bitcoin’s history. Not content to clear the psychological barrier of $20,000, bitcoin’s price smashed up almost all the way to $30,000, although it would take the turn to the new year to hit that new high-water mark.  In this episode, NLW looks at interpretations of why bitcoin is rising, why it dipped today and what analysts and investors think will happen next. This analysis includes: Evidence of institutional FOMO including a rise in bitcoin whale addresses Massive outflows from Coinbase Pro over the weekend  The impact of derivatives liquidations that occurred Monday morning  Commentary from OTC desks on Q1 2021 possibilities

Tony Greer is a macro analyst and author of the Morning Navigator Newsletter. In this conversation, he and NLW discuss how central banks continued to kick the can down the road on debt as well as unexpected sources of strength for the economy heading into 2021. Find our guest online: @TgMacro Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com

Dan Tapiero is an investor and entrepreneur with deep experience in gold and bitcoin. In this conversation with NLW he discusses the new group of institutional investors coming into the space and why, for them, bitcoin represents much more than just a hedge against possible future inflation. Find our guest online: @DTAPCAP Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com

The wealth adviser and CEO of Onramp Invest discusses why the Federal Reserve continues to ignore its role in income inequality and what the bitcoin community can do to be a force for positive change. Find our guest online: @TR401 Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownNLW   The Breakdown is produced and distributed by CoinDesk.com